nightlife istanbul

NightLife / Istanbul

Actually it is pretty bright !

But you' ve got to come and explore yourselves.More famous for its

historical sites and its carpets, most visitors come to Istanbul not

expecting to find much in the way of nightlife. Nothing could be

further from the truth. Istanbul's recent economic growth and

increasing prosperity had had enormous effect on the vitality, energy

and variety of its nightlife. The range of night entertainment is

huge, from traditional male-dominated birahanes to techno and rave

nightclubs, with new venues opening by the week. As a result,

Istanbul's nightlife is quickly gaining recognition as one of the

liveliest in Europe. An authentic Turkish experience can be combined

with a racuous nights drinking at one of Turkey's meyhanes. These

tavernas serve raki, beer and wine, along with an awe-inspiring

selection of mezes (starters), succulent kebabs and fruits of the

season. A favourite location for raki drinking, the atmosphere gets

louder and merrier as the night progresses, with clients often

breaking into impromtu renditions of Turkish classics. The most famous

meyhanes in Istanbul are located in the Cicek Pasaj in Beyoglu, a

bustling passage whose many meyhanes are interspersed with flower,

fish and vegetable stalls, and where street musicians and vendors

wander among the revellers. Birahanes are more basic, with the beer

taking precedence over the food. Turkish women rarely enter birahanes.

Although foreign women are tolerently expected to break all the rules,

and will usually be made feel welcome, it is advisable not to go to

such all-male preserves alone. For those who want to see something

more exotic, many nightclubs offer "Oriental shows" with sequined

bellydancers, troupes of Russian or Romanian dancers, and flashy

caberet singers. Most of these shows are quite tame and sanitized,

although the visitor should beware of the seedier style pavyon, where

the unsuspecting can be ripped off for an inordinate amount of money,

in return for some watered-down drinks and the dubious company of one

of the girls who work there. Fortunately, these joints are fairly

obvious, advertising their services with neon lights and photographs

of scantily-clad girls, and its not difficult to avoid them. They

appear to be a dying species, being replaced in city centres by more

profitable and fashionable rock bars and cafes. If in doubt about the

reputation of a place, clearly establish the prices before ordering

anything. If the pavyons are not sufficiently tittilating for your

tastes, Turkey has thriving red light districts, where genelev

(brothels) operate legally under the control of the municipality.

Certain hotels in the sleazier areas of towns also act as unofficial

pickup joints. In the past few years Western-style bars and cafes have

become the place to see and be seen. Opening hours are long; most bars

stay open until 2:00 am and some keep going until 4:00am or later. The

most downmarket of these are sawdust-on-the-floor style rock bars,

where the beer is incredibly cheap, decoration is minimal, and heavy

metal and 70s rock is the order of the day. These are popular among

students, and the atmosphere is extremely lively, with lots of

political discussion taking place amidst the headbanging. The dress

code for these bars is strictly grunge, with body piercing, heavy

metal t-shirts, and lots of hair. The oldest and most enduring of

these is Koprualti Kemanci, also known as Eski Kemanci, which began

life as one of the hangouts under the old wooden Galata bridge, but is

now located in Taksim. In the middle, there are numerous rock bars

offering live music, usually bands performing covers of popular rock

classics from Pink Flyod, The Who and Led Zepplin, alternating with

the latest disco mixes. Prices in Istanbul are usually a little less

than other European cities, while in tourist resorts competition means

the prices are kept extremely low. In Istanbul try Kemanci, Hayal

Kavhesi and Mojo Blues Bar. Alternative music is becoming more widely

available and popular in Turkey, and the newest clubs cater for fans

of underground, hardcore and drum and bass. For a more relaxed

atmosphere, there are many late-opening cafes serving great

cappuchinos along with alcohol and playing everything from classical

to drum and bass. At the top end of the market are bars and clubs

catering to the young and upwardly mobile elite. These are superbly

stylish, and concentrated mainly in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. In

Istanbul, the top discos have summer locations along the Bosphorus,

where you can enjoy the beautiful view while partying until the early

hours. Levent and Etiler are also recommended watering spots. Gay

nightlife is largely confined to Istanbul, where many bars and clubs

cater for the gay community. A�ik Radyo has a gay programme where you

can find details of any special activities going on. Bilsak, Prive,

Hans and Club 14 are currently popular, and are all centrally located

around Taksim. A word of warning - always carry your passport or some